| fertile | 1. Producing fruit or vegetation in abundance; fruitful; able to produce abundantly; prolific; fecund; productive; rich; inventive; as, fertile land or fields; a fertile mind or imagination. "Though he in a fertile climate dwell." (Shak) 2. <botany> Capable of producing fruit; fruit-bearing; as, fertile flowers. Containing pollen; said of anthers. 3. Produced in abundance; plenteous; ample. "Henceforth, my early care . . . Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease Of thy full branches." (Milton) Synonym: Fertile, Fruitful. Fertile implies the inherent power of production; fruitful, the act. The prairies of the West are fertile by nature, and are turned by cultivation into fruitful fields. The same distinction prevails when these words are used figuratively. A man of fertile genius has by nature great readiness of invention; one whose mind is fruitful has resources of thought and a readiness of application which enable him to think and act effectively. Origin: L. Fertiliz, fr. Ferr to bear, produce: cf. F. Fertile. See Bear to support. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| fertile material | <physics> In nuclear physics, this refers to a nuclide which converts to fissile material upon neutron capture and subsequent radioactive decay. Examples include Uranium-238 and Thorium-232. (09 Oct 1997) |
| fertile period | The period in a regularly menstruating woman's cycle, during which conception is most likely. (05 Mar 2000) |